Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, has held a meeting with a European Union (EU) delegation led by EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Samuela Isopi.
The discussions focused on establishing collaborative efforts between Nigeria and European countries in the lead-up to the United Nations Climate Conference (COP28).
Minister Lawal expressed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to combating climate change and acknowledged the EU’s support in enhancing renewable energy capacity.
Emphasizing the importance of sustained cooperation, he stated, “Our collaboration will extend beyond COP28. We are happy to continue working jointly and assiduously in combating climate change.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Salako, addressed the ECOWAS Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) coordination meeting in Abuja.
Dr. Salako reiterated the Nigerian government’s dedication to ratifying the BBNJ treaty in line with President Bola Tinubu’s sustainable development agenda.
Connecting biodiversity loss and climate change as interlinked crises, he urged for a global response, stating, “The urgent need to address this threat has led Nigeria and its sister ECOWAS member nations to unite and call on the international community to be more ambitious in its response.”
Dr. Salako concluded by highlighting Nigeria’s symbolic commitment to the BBNJ treaty and urged swift ratification for effective implementation.
